The minister of state (MoS) for external affairs Preneet Kaur on Friday alleged that the state government was discriminating against marriage palace owners in Patiala.
Kaur was reacting to reports that palaces in the district had not been allowed to function after a recent row over their functioning, while palaces in other parts were allowed to their business.
"The state government has adopted a policy of 'You show me the face I will tell you the rule' when it comes to deal with issues pertaining to Patiala district," said Preneet.
Preneet said that the Punjab and Haryana high court had granted the state government a three-month window to come up with a comprehensive policy on the functioning of marriage palaces in the state. Till then all palaces across the state were being allowed to function, except those in Patiala, Preneet alleged. Before the HC allowed a 3-month window, marriage palaces had been sealed.
"All affected marriage palaces in the state, except those located in Patiala district, have been given a lease of life for three months and are now functioning normally," she claimed.
She added that 92 marriage palaces in Patiala stand closed, causing a great deal of inconvenience to the public and considerable financial loss to the owners, besides rendering a large number of manpower, engaged in the business, jobless.
{{/usCountry}}She added that 92 marriage palaces in Patiala stand closed, causing a great deal of inconvenience to the public and considerable financial loss to the owners, besides rendering a large number of manpower, engaged in the business, jobless.
{{/usCountry}}"The state government, instead of indulging in petty politics on issues of public interest, should quickly come up with a uniform policy to regularise the existing new marriage palaces," she added.